Clock Tuner for Ryzen 2.1 RC5 – make the processor work in a new way! / Overclockers.ua

The main goal of the CTR project is to improve the energy efficiency and performance of the processor by fine-tuning the frequency relative to voltage. Huge customization options will satisfy the needs of any user. Most of the processes are fully automated, and the result is always individual for each system. Even if you are a beginner, the multi-layered security system will not allow you to enter potentially dangerous settings or perform dangerous actions.

A key feature of the CTR 2.1 RC5 are six independent profiles that allow the user to customize their processor for any workload, no matter how many cores are used: two or all. You are already familiar with P2 and P1 – these are profiles for multi-core workloads. The novelty is four profiles:

• IDLE profile – for idle computer.
• PX HIGH only controls the frequency for the top two cores.
• PX MID – for the top four cores.
• PX LOW – For the top six or eight cores in your system, depending on the processor model. At the same time, weak cores operate at a reduced frequency.

With CTR 2.1 RC5, creating profiles for Zen 3 (and Renoir) processors has become incredibly fast and easy. These profiles are created automatically during diagnostics. On average, the process takes up to 7 minutes. CTR knows about Vdroop, VRM specs, cooling system and of course the potential of silicon. This allows you to create profiles that do not require additional stress testing.

In CTR 2.1 RC5, the profile switching speed has reached 62 times per second. That’s twice as fast as Zen 1 and Zen+ processors, but only 6.25% faster than default Zen 2 or Zen 3. The profile switching speed is artificially limited, this reduces the CTR requirements for processor usage (up to 0.1-0.2% in the case of the Ryzen 5 5600X processor, for example).

I know that many of you are wondering: “What is special about these profiles and why CTR and not Curve Optimizer?”.

I suggest comparing CTR and CO with 4-thread load and multi-thread load using each method. This (rather rough) comparison is best suited for testing an ideal scenario that simulates a typical user load (work or play).

The key feature of the PX profile is the significantly reduced voltage requirements relative to stock CPU settings and locking weak cores at a lower frequency to avoid instability. This is justified by the current features of the 7nm process technology (critical voltage/frequency ranges) and the architecture of Zen 3 as a whole. The self-heating chain reaction of silicon (higher voltage = more heat = extra voltage needed to compensate for that heat), which used to lead to higher voltage and lower frequency, is no longer the main limiting factor for high frequencies. CTR can significantly improve the voltage/frequency ratio (up to 7%), and the maximum possible frequencies exceed the capabilities of Curve Optimizer.

For a multi-threaded load, enabling PBO and Curve Optimizer greatly improves performance, but increases power consumption to a very high 202W instead of the typical 145W. The P1 profile typically operates at just 1.175V, 175mV less than the typical all-core voltage (1.35V), and the CCX1 frequency even exceeds the PBO and maximum CO frequency. The difference in voltage/frequency ratio is now more than 15.7% (3.31 vs. 3.83) with identical performance. Summing up, we can say that using the CTR profile in this example made the processor significantly cooler (by 16˚), and the PPT difference was 52 watts.

Of course, this is not all, and in the future, users are waiting for dynamic profiles that can adapt to any load in real time while having maximum energy efficiency, but more on that in another material.

This time, instead of tedious textual information, I have prepared a quick video tour for you. Enjoy!

What’s new?

So, what changes and additions were made:

• PX profiles for all processors. Get the best performance in low-threaded applications and games!
• Fast and accurate creation of P1, P2 and PX profiles during diagnostics (Zen 3 and Renoir only). The whole process takes about 7 minutes.
• Redesigned CTR HYBRID OC. Smooth and safe profile switching. The speed of switching profiles reaches 62 times per second (4 times faster than in previous versions).
• Profile preload. Increases the speed of CTR response to load changes.
• The efficient CTR HYBRID OC throttling system allows your processor to efficiently handle super-heavy workloads (base clock at 1.1V).
• Automatic recommendation of the lowest possible stresses for each profile. Allows you to achieve maximum energy efficiency without compromising performance. In most cases, profiles are able to outperform PBO.
• Improved idle state.
• Reading CPPC information through the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI).
• Improved security of CTR communications with the system control unit (SMU).
• CTR BOOST TESTER – Whether you use CTR or Curve Optimizer (CO), you can compare the results of each booster with extended information (temperature, PPT, etc.).
• CLEAR CONFIG & CLOSE – a button that allows you to reset all CTR settings to their default values.
• Real-time profile switching statistics (PROFILES tab).
• Automatic restoration of profile(s) activity after sleep.
• CALCULATE button for PX, P2 and P1. If you need to recalculate a profile, you don’t need to restart the entire diagnostic process (Zen 3 and Renoir).
• Windows Hardware Error Architecture (WHEA) check for the tuning process.
• Improved protection against dangerous and unintentional user actions.
• Automatic recovery of configuration files after a crash.
• Improved Phoenix mode (fixed “PLATINUM sample”, etc.).
• Independent profile system. If one profile is broken, the other profiles are safe.
• Improved support for the unique dual CCD processors Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 5800X.
• Fully supported by AGESA 1.2.0.1 and newer.
• TO TRAY is a separate button. The user can choose how to minimize the CTR.
• Improved logging for all modes and functions.
• Rebalanced processor quality categories (gold, silver, etc.).
• CTR automatically adjusts “Holding time”. No longer available for manual control.
• Increased CTR startup speed (up to 4 times).
• CTR has driver priority. Allows it to work more efficiently when the load on the system is at its maximum.
• Reduced CPU usage.
• Fix Alt-Tab when CTR is in system tray.
• An easier way to activate profiles (no saving required).
• Numerous minor bug fixes and improvements.

CTR Requirements

What is needed to run the program:

• .NET Framework 4.8.
• UEFI for Zen 3 with AGESA 1.1.0.0 path D or newer.
• UEFI for Zen 2 with any AGESA.
• UEFI for APUs with AGESA 1.2.0.0 or later.
• UEFI with no manual settings for CPU voltage and CPU multiplier, no PBO (i.e. set to auto or disabled), no curve optimizer, and no Performance Enhancer (or other similar technologies).
• A customized VRM (Important! CPU LLC – Level 3 for ASUS, Mode 4 for MSI, High for Gigabyte and Level 2 for Asrock usually work best). These values ​​are approximate and may vary depending on the motherboard.
• Stable DRAM (OC or XMP). If you are a beginner, enable XMP and don’t touch DRAM settings.

Supported processors

List of supported models:

• Zen 3: Ryzen 9 5950X, Ryzen 9 5900X, Ryzen 7 5800X, Ryzen 5 5600X.
• Zen 2: Threadripper 3970X, Threadripper 3960X, Ryzen 9 3950X, Ryzen 9 3900X, Ryzen 9 3900XT, Ryzen 9 3900, Ryzen 7 3800XT, Ryzen 7 3800X, Ryzen 7 3700X, Ryzen 5 3600XT, Ryzen 5 3600X, Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 5 3500X, Ryzen 5 3500, Ryzen 3 3300X (частично) and Ryzen 3 3100 (частично).
• APU: Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G, Ryzen 7 PRO 4650G, Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G.

You can download the ClockTuner for Ryzen 2.1 RC5 utility here.